Love the detail you guys are showing. I used to only build the 'big' cats but now I can see why these little guys are a challenge. Very fine details.

@ Max Nice build Max, that pz2 looks great and you have done a great job on the commander. I can never get those faces right. I think you have nailed it though.

@ Joel, The build is looking great so far. Looks like you had to do some serious putty work. Were the parts that far out? Keep us posted.

@ Bob R, What kit was the baby Pz you built from? I was actually wanting to build that same model with the 20mm but couldnt find it anywhere.

@ DazzaD: I purchased Master Box at Squadron.com here in the States.


Bob

I haven't check the thread for a while, and it looks a lot of very nice work come to life.

I have finally managed to upload my finished 7TP into the campaign gallery.


Cheers,
Istvan

DazzaD, A lot more putty work then I've become accustom to, but it's not big deal on those major panels. Tight precise fit for the turret assembly is right there, so I'm way ahead of the game.

Joel

With the car in for service for a good part of the day, I had some much needed free time to get some work done on the M5A1 Stuart. I decided to paint the completed hull with a few coats of Tamiya OD. The only issue I had was that the Tamiya OD is way too dark for my liking. So I mixed it equal parts OD to German Africa Yellow and then toned it down with flat Black. I'm pretty happy with the result, but I'll let you guys decide just how close I got.

Also painted the interior of the turret dirty flat White.

Joel

I like the color Joel. Just got through using Vallejo's OD and it gave me trouble going through the A/B, but I like the color.

Bob

Bob, thanks. If you're having trouble shooting any paint through an air brush, it's either not thinned enough and or you're shooting it at to low an air pressure.

I shoot Tamiya acrylics thinned 50/50 with their Acrylic paint thinner @ 18-20 psi. I use a Paasche 1H single action gun with a #3 tip and needle/cone. Works great. As with all acrylics, the needle does get clogged every so often, for that I just wipe it with a Q-tip soaked with whatever paint thinner I'm using.

Joel

Hi Folks,

I have not been able to post for a while, but I have been following the thread and all of the builds are simply superb, everyone seems to be producing really nice models. I have finished my Vickers Mark E (6-Ton) light tank by Mirage and have uploaded it to the campaign gallery. I will now start on something else, I have a little TKS Tankette I want to do and I hope to get the Mirage 'Honey' any day soon. Anyway here are the photos of my completed Vickers, it is depicting a vehicle from the Light Tank Battalion of the 10th Motorised Cavalry Brigade in 1938.













Well that's one down, hope you like it, all comments welcome.

All the best,

Paul

@ Joel: thanks for the info. I have been cleaning and thinning with 91% alcohol I wonder if that is the culprit.

@ Paul: nice looking Vickers Mark E, love that single turret with those rivets. I built the twin turret version in the past, but I like the single version better.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I love these early war vehicles, gone right off the big, late war stuff. The Mirage kit doesn't have rivets on the turret as it is cast like a bucket, I had to place each one individually, very therapeutic. My source for all my rivets in 1/72 is the under-pan of tanks, rich harvest to be had there. I have the twin turret version with the Hotchkiss guns, but I want the one with the 7.92mm wz.30 guns as well. I might try to squeeze that one in as well before the end of the Campaign. Thanks for your comments.

All the best,

Paul

91% Alcohol evaporates way too quickly to use for air brushing. The best is 50% Iso Alcohol. Start with a 16 oz bottle of the stuff, add a few drops or retarder that you can get at any art supply store, and even a few drops of dish detergent. It will make a hugh difference. If you can't get 50% Iso, which nearly all drug stores carry, then just cut the 90% in half with distilled water.

Joel

@ Joel: I will try diluting the alcohol filtered water from a Brita pitcher. I use Dawn liquid dish detergent, witll that work and if so how much (a drop from an eye dropper).
I sprayed some Pledge last night straight from the bottle with no problems.

Bob

Bob, just a few drops is all it takes.

Joel

Sorry for missing out on like half the campaign as you get busy sometimes. I look forward to seeing the finished models

Here's my 1/48 Kengi models late Stuart. I tried out the AK mud for the first time on it.

Graig, nicely done. The mud looks great. I have to try the DK stuff myself.

BTW, the color of your tanks looks grey not OD on my screen.

Joel

Wow - everyone's getting on with their builds! Mine has been waiting for paint for about a week now (long queue in the paint booth!) but I've been too lazy to post photos until now...






Despite being a PITA to build, it's actually not a bad little kit! (Even if I had to bore out the sprockets with a 5.5mm drill to fit the axles.) The figure pose is inspired, even if he took a bit of fitting and shaving. My additions were minimal - screens and stowage boxes. (The 20mm boxes are scratched.) Eventually it'll get some Normandy-style paint.

Tom

@ Tom: sounds like you have the same amount of fun making things fit as I did I like your build so far, it looks nice a clean.

Bob

echoing Bob - VERY nice build Tom, cant wait to see it painted

Joel - thanks. I used Tamiya OD lightened with a little dark yellow.


Tom - How did you make your screens? They look good. Will it be sporting a camo?

Greg, Nice finish, I like your results. The OD looks fine from my computer screen.

Tom, Looks like you've done very well considering the fit issues you were having.

Thanks Bob, Master Box…. I have never heard of them. None of them around where I am from anyway. Might hafta do some googling

@ Joel your detail of cleaning that kit up looks fantastic. Everytime I have tried to use the putty to fix up gaps I make the kit look like a kids toy Need more practice... or better still some more time to practice!

Nice work on the Vickers Paul. Top job all round, that must be a rare one too or I am just not up to speed on the smaller tanks Would be good to build the Vickers line end to end… hmm Back to google…

@ Greg, Nice build mate, the extra luggage makes the tank come to life and the mud adds a great level of detail. What was it like to apply? Is it actually clumps like mud or is it smooth like paint?

@ Tom what kit is that? It looks very clean in the detail. I always loved the look of those little panzer tanks with the bigger road wheels. Looking good so far!

Tom, thanks. Your OD is just about exactly what I used plus a few drops of black. I'm sure that the color issue is my laptop's graphics card.

Joel

DazzaD - The AK mud comes liquid. You can load a brush with paint and blow it off the paintbrush using an airbrush. Some of it you mix with plaster to get a thicker mud.

[quote...
@ Joel your detail of cleaning that kit up looks fantastic. Everytime I have tried to use the putty to fix up gaps I make the kit look like a kids toy Need more practice... or better still some more time to practice!...
[/quote]

I'm still using Squadron Green & White putty applied with a small sculpturing tool or a toothpick. I apply small amounts at a time rather then trying to fill a large space in one application. I also use a Q-Tip dampened with plain old water to clean up putty that gets where I don't want it. I've also used a Q-Tip damped with lacquer cleaner, but you have to be careful as it will melt the plastic if you rub too hard or too long in one place.

For larger gaps I fill them with either plastic sheet scraps, or a homemade concoction of melted plastic sprue pieces in good old Testors liquid cement. I keep on adding pieces of sprue until I get to the consistancy I want.

You might want to try using masking tape along both sides of the area you're puttying in. Once dry, you can sand without damaging the side surfaces. But you'll have to remove the tape to get the putty down to the proper surface level. Still, that will take just a few light sanding strokes. Then follow up with finer emery paper to polish out the sanding marks.

Joel

Hi guys,

My Luchs will indeed wear camo! I'm thinking lots of swirly green, with a bit of brown, mostly (but not completely!) hiding the yellow. Might even add some foliage.

As for those screens, I started with some plastic lace (from wedding-table doilies - a pack of 6 was a couple of quid at my local Hobbycraft shop), onto which I glued strips of Evergreen 0.010x0.030" stock. Beats heck out of buying brass!

Dazza, it's the old ICM kit, probably a rebox of even older moulds. All in all I'm glad I persevered with the kit. However, if I did it again I'd go for the Tasca beast instead...

Tom